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DEEN is really careful with most details.
I like how the emphasis the calendar (to Rika this is her death counter), how Hanyuu is portrayed, and all the little tidbits from the various chapters.

I really like how Satoko stand out, especially her traps. It'll make the future episodes better.

But, my counter is broken. Tommy died. Okay cool, but instead of being 1/2 done with Yakusamashi-hen, they're jumping right to Iri's death! Shame on you DEEN, you've broken tradition!

Satoko is really portraying X really well, Rika is portraying Y very well, and Z is implied here and there. Initially I thought this original arc will tie back to the first episode this season, but I don't see Rena going crazy-go-nuts anytime soon for that to happen - especially now that Miyocchi is "dead."

The thing that's driving me crazy is, will Satoko loose it or not? I hope they don't steel the thunder from the next arc (already some things from that arc leaked into this one), but yea... The "end" is imminent, and I don't see how Rule Breaker is going to fit in.

Spoiler:

Although both Nii-Nii (part 2) and Nee-Nee haven't done active parts yet, so... maybe, they'll bring it in for the closure to break and bring hope. The "new wind" has to spark hope back into Rika. Otherwise, Minagoroshi-hen going to start really weird...

Maybe, They'll convince Rena to hide Rika in the van? I'm really lost what miracle will fuel Rika's spirit later at this point.

Although both Nii-Nii (part 2) and Nee-Nee haven't done active parts yet, so... maybe, they'll bring it in for the closure to break and bring hope. The "new wind" has to spark hope back into Rika. Otherwise, Minagoroshi-hen going to start really weird...

Maybe, They'll convince Rena to hide Rika in the van? I'm really lost what miracle will fuel Rika's spirit later at this point.

Spoiler:

In my opinion, what'll "fuel" Rika's hope and determiantion is Satoko's determination on protecting her. Seeing her try so hard to avoid the unavoidable destiny will probably light up a fire inside of her. We'll just have to wait and see...

In my opinion, what'll "fuel" Rika's hope and determiantion is Satoko's determination on protecting her. Seeing her try so hard to avoid the unavoidable destiny will probably light up a fire inside of her. We'll just have to wait and see...

Spoiler:

Oh, I don't doubt Satoko's determination is going to be a part. But the "new wind" refers to a specific character in the series. If Satoko is the one who fuels Rika with hope that may make Minagoroshi-hen start off a bit awkward (and will lessen the "new wind's" importance a little in the puzzle) - although it may make the latter parts of Minagoroshi-hen a bit more exciting.

I'm kinda up in the air about that, but as a game player, I just hope the least amount of changes to the latter chapters. I guess I'm just stubborn with the importance of the Rule Breaker.

Oh, I don't doubt Satoko's determination is going to be a part. But the "new wind" refers to a specific character in the series. If Satoko is the one who fuels Rika with hope that may make Minagoroshi-hen start off a bit awkward (and will lessen the "new wind's" importance a little in the puzzle) - although it may make the latter parts of Minagoroshi-hen a bit more exciting.

I'm kinda up in the air about that, but as a game player, I just hope the least amount of changes to the latter chapters. I guess I'm just stubborn with the importance of the Rule Breaker.

Spoiler:

Well Satoko's determination doesn't meant that Mr 'New Wind' is not gonna play a role. So far we know that Mion and Rena thinks that Satoko is paranoid, so I'm thinking the Kei will be the hero here and save Satoko (for a while at least) This leading Rika to relearn that fate and the 3 rules can be overcome.
But, man, I was hopping for a rather calm arc here, looks like the sh*t's about to hit the fan. Next week or two should be exciting.

BTW anyone know how any episodes this will be. If this arc ends in 2 weeks, making it ep 6. A 13 episode season would mean that 7 episodes left for the last 2 arcs which IMO is too short for the conclusions. While a 26 episode season would mean a staggering 10 episodes for the 2 arcs.

There's at least one person that's getting a violent death for sure, besides this has been the most I've enjoyed an anime series in a long time. This anime exclusive arc has been excellent so far and I don't think they'll disappoint us.

Phew... Okay, that was a very hard episode to go through because of all the suspense and the multiple possible "Oh-snap" moments. But it was a good episode nonetheless - we see that even if Rika just can't take it anymore, she is still trying to get that last bit of determination to try and change her future.

Spoiler:

Unfortunately it fails and Tomitake dies like always.

But personally, I just couldn't tell where where this arc was headed to until the last bits of the episode - I thought Rika would be suspicious of Satoko when Ooishi showed up, and I also thought Satoko would lose faith in her friends and snap like the other characters did in previous arcs. Thankfully, none of that happened, which makes things even more complicated.

But I have to say that... DAMN, I wish the anime would stop making me feel like crap Seriously, Satoko asks for Kuma-chan's help and then bang, before he can help her out,

Spoiler:

he gets killed by the 4chan party van. That got me really shaken, because now there's one more reason why Satoko might completely lose faith in everyone.

And YAY for Shion fanservice - She needs more attention! And more Rika + Satoko fun moments are requested as well. A Gif of Rika-chan forcing herself to put up a gigantic smile is 100% required. Cookies for whoever does it!

Spoiler for Next episode preview:

Okay, so things start getting serious from this point on. There were very few moments in which Rika was shown - which gives me a bad feeling. Satoko was doing fairly bad as well, being pushed around by Ooishi and having to witness a lot of horrible things.

Oh boy another week which I feel terrible for Rika and Satoko. We're seeing even more clearly the despair and sorrow Rika is living with. I'm really worried with her reaching the point that she doesn't want to do anything. We could probably get some insight on Satoko if she was a bit more hopeful, or maybe just dealing with such a heavy burden she doesn't really think about Satoko's fears. Really sad to see her falling down and crying after failing to stop Tomitake.

Satoko is in a tough spot as well right now. Unlike Rika she doesn't have much information and is only working with bits and pieces. Talk by Rika about how she will die, telling Tomitake that he'd die which he did. I wasn't sure if the stalker was her just losing it like Keiichi or something more sinister. But of course with Kuma getting killed like that something is going on. Just who the heck are those guys anyways? They've shown up a few times and I just can't figure out their agenda. Killing someone just because they drove up?

For some reason next week is making me think about something. If anyone remembers those Home Alone movies. Started thinking that this could be what would've gone down if the crooks weren't morons or it wasn't supposed to be a funny movie. Satoko is one trap master so if she wanted to get deadly it would be possible. Something needs to happen since right now it's not looking good for Satoko and Rika now and with her current despair Rika can't have much success in the future.

Satoko is one trap master so if she wanted to get deadly it would be possible.

IT is referenced at a point in the story (don't remember where) that Satoko's traps are almost deadly and that she could kill people like that if she wanted, especially if she snaps like it seems she will. So, I think it's a given that we'll see some massive trap action in the next episode. Ike Satoko!

About those guys of the van,

Spoiler for Kuma-chan's killers:

I'm guessing they are the organization that's behind some of the strange events in Hinamizawa? Like Tomitake and Takano's death?... I'm totally clueless about their objective though.

I really can't wait for next week - the preview shows some very interesting bits.

Spoiler for Thoughts about preview:

I'm pretty sure this'll be the end of yakusamashi-hen. First, I can say I'm almost 100% sure Satoko will snap (not really sure when or why, but I'm guessing that it'll be because of the tragic events that'll unfold) and try to protect Rika at all costs. I'm guessing she'll fail while trying, but some very important information about Rika's death will be revealed (yay! Finnaly!) (Unless that bloody body was someone else's). As for the later scenes, I'm guessing Oishii will try to take information out of Satoko (presumably about Rika's and kumatani's death, because she was the last one to see them). Also, seeing her hospitalized makes me think that she'll be the lone survivor of the "Hinamizawa disatser" this time. That, or she'll see Shion pop out of the bed with a bloody face and some nails and hammer, like Keichii in Watanagashi-hen... (hey, everyone noticed Shion disappeared, right? So, it's always a possibilty!)

Good story... I'm not too tense about how it will wrap up, however. Likely because made this story from the POV of both Satoko and Rika, unlike season 1 where it was almost entirely one person's POV per chapter so I felt sort of taken through that person's experience. I don't feel quite as much dramatic suspense when this storyline is split between two people's issues and features their concern for one another.

I loved the scene where Rika cheered up Satoko. Ah, they're quite awesome.... Also when Rika spoke to Ooishi, that whole exchange was really well-done I think.

I'm pretty sure this'll be the end of yakusamashi-hen. First, I can say I'm almost 100% sure Satoko will snap (not really sure when or why, but I'm guessing that it'll be because of the tragic events that'll unfold) and try to protect Rika at all costs. I'm guessing she'll fail while trying, but some very important information about Rika's death will be revealed (yay! Finnaly!) (Unless that bloody body was someone else's). As for the later scenes, I'm guessing Oishii will try to take information out of Satoko (presumably about Rika's and kumatani's death, because she was the last one to see them). Also, seeing her hospitalized makes me think that she'll be the lone survivor of the "Hinamizawa disatser" this time. That, or she'll see Shion pop out of the bed with a bloody face and some nails and hammer, like Keichii in Watanagashi-hen... (hey, everyone noticed Shion disappeared, right? So, it's always a possibilty!)

Spoiler for the preview:

Considering how was Satoko during her struggle, she won't snap until she will see the horror already set.
Also, since Minagoroshi will answer most questions, chances that they will show how Rika is killed are near to none. as i can see with the preview, looks like Rika is already dead when Satoko arrives.

as for Shion, it doesn't look like her absence is so critical. sure it would help satoko, but the result won't really change, it appears

well then, a rather hardcore episode, and so is the analysis. not too sure this time, considering the sheer amount of hints and various "bordeline" spoilers. nevertherless, nothing foretelling, rest assured.Episode 4 : Analysis

I've always thought that this would happen to somebody for some reason, but to my lack of surprise, it actually happens.

Spoiler for Guys in the gray suits:

The mysterious guys that have been doing almost nothing serious (except maybe in Himatsubushi-hen) finally show up and kill "people" with firearms. Except the method of Rika's Watanagashi (according to Oishi) made me doubt that these shady individuals were responsible for any of the actual killings.

Poor Kuma kuma. And when will we finally learn about what happened to Irie?

I loved the Rika smile. It hit harder than ni-pah and desu~ combined.

Oh yeah, was this the first time that Rika didn't meet up with the crew at the beginning of the festival?

We all can sense it things are going to get rather serious from now on. What I enjoyed was that Rika said that nothing had changed the same outfit the same accessories. Till one of the woman said they needed to fix the strings. Suddenly she realizes that past times the strings were not fixed.

To me it looked like she got a ray of hope something which she has had given up on. I would suspect that is why she rushed to the forest so quickly to see if Tomitake and Takano had already entered the shrine. Unfortunately they already had which only reaffirms to her that nothing will change IT can not be stopped. I was a little sad when she said "Im too tired, If i cant do anything then i dont want to do anything" I think her death will be as hard on me as it was the first time.

Satoko is quite the little trap maker but i would have done exactly the same thing. I did not expect for Satoko to start losing it this early on. She is sure they are being followed but i think its the injections. Either way someone is going to meet with a very painful death soon.

Our good gray clothed guys return but WTF this time they are carrying silencers that was kind weird and through me for a loop but they too also serve a purpose i just have no freakin clue what.

I highly doubt we are going to see anymore fun times with the gang like the first 2 episodes. Iv already put my mind in bad shit is going to happen to everyone mode, doing this saved me going nuts in the first arc. In Higurashi never EVER get your hopes u

Without the heavy spoilers of the next episode, doesn't it look like Rika is the victim of Rule X, right now anyway? Maybe Satoko next episode...

Dunno if this is considered spoiler but...

Spoiler for Rules?:

isn't Rika being all paranoid about her friends suffering a horrible fate preventing her from asking for their help, which falls in line with the dogma of rule X?

Since the supposed rules were explained in Minagoroshi-hen and I believe Rika was oblivious to them before that time, isn't it possible that she fell victim to the own rules she figured out later on?

With the final episode (or should be the final episode) of Yakusamashi-hen airing next week, I wonder how they will do Minagoroshi-hen? Mixed feelings on Rika's monologue in the game...will be awesome to see...but kind of boring all animated I guess...

And I wonder how they will get away with killing a police officer/investigator...I mean they do have perks, but thats going a bit too far o-O

In regards to the gray guys...isn't this thread getting a little spoilerish? I mean, I'm getting the feeling that the things people are saying about them aren't supposed to be known for a good while yet...

Fantastic episode, as usual. Things are finally starting to get creepy again and it was interesting to see a scene with Tomitake that WASN'T the usual "Tomitake says Hi, explains he's a photographer, etc." we usually see.

Spoiler for Next Episode Preview And Future Events:

The preview for the next episode looks like it has a pretty not-good-condition Satoko in it...complete with Ooishi badgering her while she's in hospital bed. I'm excited to see this since I always thought it was a lot of powerful scenes in the TIPS. Poor Satoko.